Abercrombie seeks more funds for anti-ice efforts

Abercrombie and other members of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine wrote to lead congressional appropriators requesting higher funding levels for anti-drug efforts- especially the battle against ice- in the House-Senate conference report on the FY 2006 appropriations bill for the Justice Department.

“Ice is one of the most serious problems facing Hawaii,” said Abercrombie.  “It’s destroying families, afflicting thousands of individuals of all ages and blighting our communities.  Law enforcement is doing a heroic job with the resources they have, but they need more help.  I’m hopeful that our appeal will convey the urgency of this issue.”

The letter, dated October 27, 2005, reads:

Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members:

As you prepare for conference negotiations on the FY06 appropriations bill for the Department of Justice, we are writing to you, as members of the 127 member, bi-partisan Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, in support of many highly successful federal programs that help to control illegal drug production and use.  We respectfully request your assistance in ensuring adequate funds are put forth to help fight and win the war on methamphetamine. 

Methamphetamine, or "meth," manufacturing and use is among the fastest growing drug problems in the nation. The recipe to manufacture the drug can be obtained over the Internet, and many of the ingredients are common household products such as over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, iodine, ammonia, starter fluid, drain cleaner or rubbing alcohol.  Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state and local law enforcement officials seized 7,050 meth labs.  In at least 45 states, these numbers are growing at an alarming rate.  Even more disturbing is the fact that more than two-thirds of these labs are found in "average" residences in rural areas.  Furthermore, a startling 12% of America’s youth have used methamphetamine.  According to a survey released in July by the National Association of Counties, 58% of reporting counties identify meth as their biggest drug problem

While we recognize the fiscal constraints of the budget, which have been made even more difficult in the wake of both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have concerns about a potential loss of focus in the area of drug control which will allow the meth epidemic to continue to spread, forcing increased costs upon local, state and federal resources.  Across the United States drug abuse is directly responsible for the deaths of over 20,000 Americans each year, and imposes massive social costs.  Congress and the Administration cannot afford to neglect this critical problem.  

We believe federal assistance to state and local agencies has a national impact and importance. We have seen in our districts firsthand the immense need for and benefit of this funding.  State and local law enforcement personnel are fighting on the “front lines” in the struggle to stop drug trafficking.  They make over 90 percent of drug-related arrests and seizures.  Local schools are the best venue through which we can educate young people on the dangers of drug abuse.  State and local prisons house most of the nation’s drug offenders.  Federal assistance to these agencies has a major impact by involving them in the national goals of enforcement, treatment, and prevention.

Again, we respect your assistance with the following requests:

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant:

We were pleased to see both the House and Senate reject the Administration’s proposal to terminate the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne-JAG) program.  Bryne-JAG grants are critical to multi-jurisdictional drug taskforces.  Numerous state and local officials have informed us that many programs - particularly drug task forces - within states would have to be shut down if Byrne-JAG funding were cut off.  A spokesman for the Illinois narcotics officers association, for example, testified before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Trafficking and Human Resources that terminating the Byrne-JAG grants would terminate virtually all of the anti-meth and other drug enforcement task forces in the state.

The Senate has recommended $900 million for the Byrne-JAG program, $266 million more than the FY2005 enacted level.  The House has recommended $366 million.  We respectfully request your support for the Senate level in the final conference report.

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program:

 Again, we were pleased that the House and Senate rejected the Administration’s proposed reduction in funds dedicated to law enforcement activities against methamphetamine trafficking (the “Meth Hot Spots” grants).  These important funds are administered by the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office.  Methamphetamine abuse has ravaged communities across the United States, and continues to put severe strains on state and local enforcement agencies tasked with finding clandestine drug labs, cleaning up the environmental damage they create, and arresting the drug trafficking rings that operate them.

To assist these overburdened agencies, Congress approved $54,050,000 in fiscal year 2004 and $52,556,000 in fiscal year 2005 for policing initiatives to combat methamphetamine production and trafficking and to enhance policing initiatives in “drug hot spots.” 

We greatly appreciate Chairman Wolf’s $34 million increase to the Meth Hot Spots account during floor debate in June.  Those are vital meth-fighting funds.  The House has recommended $94 million for the Meth Hot Spots account, while the Senate has recommended $60 million.  Also, the House recommended $566.6 million for the COPS account, while the Senate recommended $515 million.

As you begin conference negotiations for FY2006 funding, we respectfully request that you support the House levels for both the entire COPS account ($566.6 million) and more specifically, the Meth Hot Spots account ($94 million) in the final conference report.

Drug Enforcement Administration:

We support the House’s recommendation of $1,706,173,000 for the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Unfortunately, this is a decrease from the $1,785,000,000 appropriated in FY05.  The Senate recommended $1,649,142,000 for FY06.  We are encouraged to see language acknowledging the import role DEA plays in assisting state and local law enforcement in addressing small toxic labs.  We are also encouraged that the Administration’s proposal to reduce funding for DEA’s Mobile Enforcement program and to eliminate the Demand Reduction program was not adopted and applaud directing the focus of those programs to combating meth.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America:

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America received $2 million in FY05 funding to launch a Methamphetamine Demand Reduction program.  That program is now launching in four states - Washington state, Oklahoma, Virginia, and New York.  This initiative includes hard-hitting advertising and components designed to enhance the work of state and local law enforcement.

As mentioned above, the $2 million from last year has allowed the launch of this statewide multi-faceted methamphetamine demand reduction program in four states. With additional funds the Partnership could run similar programs in more of the hardest hit states.  We believe the best way to reduce the demand for methamphetamine is through a national comprehensive meth-use prevention effort.

We respectfully request that you use $5 million of the additional funds under the COPS Meth Hot Spots account for the Partnership for a Drug Free America’s Methamphetamine Demand Reduction program.             

Regional Information Sharing System (RISS):

We support the House’s recommendation of $40,466,000 for the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS), which is slightly larger than the Senate’s recommendation of $40 million. We believe that RISS, which facilitates electronic, computerized sharing of intelligence and information among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, is an important tool in the fight against drug trafficking and other organized crime.

Combat Meth Act:

We were pleased to see the Senate include the Combat Meth Act, S. 103, in their final version of the C-J-S Appropriations bill.  This important piece of legislation will limit meth addicts’ access to a key ingredient in making meth - pseudoephedrine.  Limiting access to this meth precursor has proven itself vital to stopping the proliferation of clandestine meth labs in states that have moved forward with similar initiatives.  We encourage you to retain the intent of this legislation with a meaningful restriction on access to pseudoephedrine in the final conference report.

We appreciate your support of programs to assist local law enforcement in their fight against methamphetamine and thank you for your attention to our requests.  We look forward to continuing to work with you to stop this growing national problem.

Sincerely,

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